Budget planning and control

IS BUDGET planning and control practised by our city and provincial governments in Iloilo?

In recent interviews of our new city mayor and provincial governor after they assumed office, they cited their plans and priorities during their term. There is no mention, however, if they have any budget provision to implement them.  

When we worked with the bank during our early years, budget planning for the incoming year of operation is done during the last quarter of the preceding year. Then the proposed budget is presented at a meeting presided by Senior Management. When approved, it is consolidated with Head Office and that of all branches for approval of the Board of Directors. Operation and direction of the business will henceforth be guided by the approved budget plan for the year.

A budget meeting with Senior Management to review performance against budget is scheduled quarterly so immediate steps can be taken to correct the deficit, if any, between annual profit goal and what is achieved during the period.

We read of the plans of Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, as well as that of Provincial Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. in the newspapers and in their personal interviews, but we have not heard that they have solicited a specific budget to implement them from the legislative bodies of their respective governments. How will they accomplish their plans without funding?

One advantage of budget planning and control is that the periodic review of performance and target will determine any variance. This provides an opportunity for corrective steps to take if there is a deviation from operational goal. Do we have budget planning and control in our local governments?

DON’T FIX IT IF AIN’T BROKE

A disturbing development is the reported plan of the City of Iloilo to repeal Executive Order (EO) 146, or the ordinance passed during the term of former mayor Jose Espinosa III that prohibits night establishments from dispensing intoxicating drinks or liquor beyond 2 a.m.

Prior to EO 146, city policemen had been unable to prevent trouble and disturbance of the peace in Smallville where many restaurants and nightspots are found.

We remember that the ordinance was passed because of a booze-induced incident that involved inebriated youngsters at drinking spots that get drunk until the wee hours of the morning. After the ordinance there was no more trouble in Smallville.

Many of us have the notion that drinking bars attract tourists. This thinking is likely unfounded. If you talk of tourists, we believe that nobody would travel as far as 10,000 miles away from home just to drink in bars. They have enough of them, or maybe even better, in the city or country where they came from. 

For Iloilo, tourists would usually go for our historical places and feast on salubrious and ethnic Ilonggo dishes not found anywhere else. They also must have heard of Ilonggo hospitality.

We believe that our police officials should make a stand and honestly brief our Honorable Mayor Jerry of the better peace and order condition that have been achieved in Smallville since the ordinance.

GEM OF THOUGHT

“Adventures are for the adventurous.” – Mini-book of Famous Proverbs (For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/PN